FBI Burglars Come Forward, 43 Years Later
Source: TPM
Five anti-Vietnam War activists who stole a trove of documents exposing the FBI's surveillance of war protesters and political groups have come forward, the New York Times reported Tuesday -- nearly 43 years after committing the crime.
The successful scheme was spearheaded by William C. Davidon, a physics professor at Haverford College and antiwar protester. He was joined by Keith Forsyth, John and Bonnie Raines, and Bob Williamson, and three other participants whose names have not been revealed. Their unmasking comes ahead of the release of a book detailing the burglary, written by Betty Medsger, a former Washington Post reporter who was one of the first journalists to receive the groups' documents.
The documents, which the burglars took out of a poorly secured FBI satellite office in Media, Pa. in suitcases, revealed the extent to which then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover presided over the surveillance of antiwar activists and dissident student groups. One document in particular disclosed a spying program, Cointelpro (Counterintelligence Program), which the Times described as "an expansive campaign to spy on civil rights leaders, political organizers and suspected Communists, and had tried to sow distrust among protest groups."
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/1970s_fbi_burglars_come_forward
blackspade
(10,056 posts)They get busted every decade or so and just switch it to a new agency.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)and make sure it is soooo secret the courts can't interfere with the unconstitutional provisions.
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)We should all read this.
MyNameGoesHere
(7,638 posts)and probably wanted them to "face the music". I am glad times have changed.
colbertforpresident
(241 posts)Not much has changed.
yellowcanine
(35,701 posts)Now everyone is fair game.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)Today Republicans AND Democrats call people like these traitors.
frylock
(34,825 posts)MyNameGoesHere
(7,638 posts)only "republicans". Wouldn't want to go to alert purgatory you know.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)And been up to my eyeballs in a flame war or hundred. I don't believe I have ever had a post pulled. If they start now, it would be time for me to move on.
Gemini Cat
(2,820 posts)Excellent article.
yellowcanine
(35,701 posts)They got the files and disseminated them without leaving any trace. And then they kept quiet and had no contact with each other until long after the statute of limitations had run out. J. Edgar Hoover was punked big time.
progressoid
(49,996 posts)We don't want them fleeing to Russia.
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deurbano
(2,895 posts)back then. (J/K)
Solly Mack
(90,779 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)blackspade
(10,056 posts)alp227
(32,047 posts)okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)years. I've read most of the memos and reports sent in by various offices involved. I'll read the stories and maybe the book, but I'd like to know more about other programs. I know Hoover was quite the character and I can only imagine what he pulled in his day.